Councillors pledge support to TUC’s Great Jobs Agenda

12th February, 2019

At the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 23rd of January, Councillors overwhelmingly backed a motion proposed by Mayor John Biggs which supports TUC’s Great Jobs Agenda. The Motion sets out the actions for employers and the government must take for every job to be a great job.

It restates employees’ rights at work and the council’s commitment to quality jobs.

The motion encourages steps to ensure employees have a voice at work, fair and decent pay, regular hours, fair treatment and respect, healthy workplaces and learning progression all six areas are well established in Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets Council has long standing relations with three recognised Trade Unions – Unite, Union and GMB.

The council pays the London Living Wage and through its procurement asks its suppliers to do the same. Following his election the Mayor introduced an Ethical Care Charter to ensure the working conditions of our home care workers.

Currently Tower Hamlets is in discussions with the Living Wage Foundation about a campaign to encourage Tower Hamlets employers to pay London Living Wage. The council is also looking to strengthen business liaison capacity within the Growth and Economic Development team and are already appointing an Apprenticeship Development Manager to encourage local businesses to create more apprenticeship opportunities.

Mayor John Biggs said:

‘We believe that everyone at work deserves a great job, where workers in our borough are paid and treated fairly and with respect. I was pleased to propose this motion with my fellow councillors. We want to be a champion on this issue.’’

Councillor Motin Uz–Zaman, Cabinet Member for Work and Economic Growth said:

‘’I’m proud of the fact we pay the London Living Wage and are looking at the ways we can use our influence to promote standards to other employers locally.’’

Sam Gurney, TUC London, Regional Secretary said

‘We’re delighted that Tower Hamlets have endorsed the Great Jobs Agenda. We have record numbers in work in London, but more than one in ten workers are in insecure jobs, where their basic rights are denied or ignored and pay in real terms has fallen since 2008. It’s great to see Tower Hamlet making a commitment to work with unions and employers to help local residents secure quality jobs for all.’